Fifteen Minnesota churches leaving ELCA over gay pastor vote

Minnesota Independent ^ | November 28, 2009 | Andy Birkey

[rhema]

More than a dozen Lutheran congregations in Minnesota have vowed to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) after a vote in Minneapolis this summer to allow gay and lesbian pastors in committed relationships to serve as clergy. The fifteen churches will join a new denomination called Lutheran CORE and leave the ELCA, the largest Lutheran denomination in the world.

The leaders of Lutheran CORE say the ELCA has moved too far away from the Bible.

"Many ELCA members and congregations have said that they want to sever ties with the ELCA because of the ELCA's continued movement away from traditional Christian teachings," Rev. Paull Spring of State College, Pa., and Lutheran CORE Chair said in a press statement last week. "The vote on sexuality opened the eyes of many to how far the ELCA has moved from Biblical teaching."

The ELCA vote doesn't force any church to roster a gay or lesbian pastor - that decision remains the decision of local congregations. Despite that, at least 15 Lutheran churches in the state have signed the Common Confession of Lutheran CORE that states in part: "We teach and practice that sexual activity belongs exclusively within the biblical boundaries of a faithful marriage between one man and one woman."

Those churches that have signed the Common Confession and started the process of leaving the ELCA include:

Albion Lutheran of St. James, American Lutheran in Long Prairie, Brooklyn Park Lutheran, Calvary Lutheran in Golden Valley, Christ the King Lutheran in Hutchinson, Faith Lutheran in Hutchinson, Faith Lutheran in Silver Creek, First Lutheran in Pipestone, Holy Cross Lutheran in Maple Lake, Redeemer Lutheran in Fridley, Redeemer Lutheran in Henderson, St. John Lutheran in Starbuck, Trinity Lutheran of Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Urland Lutheran in Cannon Falls, and Wangen Prairie Lutheran in Cannon Falls.

[rhema]

. . .at least 15 Lutheran churches in the state have signed the Common Confession of Lutheran CORE that states in part: "We teach and practice that sexual activity belongs exclusively within the biblical boundaries of a faithful marriage between one man and one woman."

[flynmudd]

The Lutheran church I attend in Texas voted to leave the ECLA.

[Venturer]

Good move on their part.

Many sins are committed on a daily basis. Adultery being one of the most often committed.
The sin is committed ,but we dont try to excuse it by saying it is right ,and making it a part of the religion we belong to.By advocating that our Pastors practice it as a God given right.

[MortMan]

That’ll teach the ELCA to stick their *ahem* “nose” in where it doesn’t belong!!!!

[bmwcyle]

Gays have put their sin before the church.

[EternalVigilance]

Good news.

I'm glad that some folks can take a hint.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."

[lightman]

Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!

* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.

[Jeff Chandler]

a vote in Minneapolis this summer to allow gay and lesbian pastors in committed relationships to serve as clergy.

So only the gays and lesbians who are in committed relationships can serve as clergy? That's so divisive!

[MplsSteve]

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[LachlanMinnesota]

The logic can be seen more clearly by substituting a different sin in place of this issue. Would the church sanction a pickpocket as a minister with the understanding that it will condone continued pickpocketing?

The true dispute here is that many do not believe that this kind of committed gay relationship is a sin. Therefore, there is no inconsistency.

We must all choose our own path. Thank God that we are given the freedom in this country to disagree and go our own way without fear of beheadings and whippings.

That is still the case, isn’t it?

[Pusterfuss]

We must all choose our own path. Thank God that we are given the freedom in this country to disagree and go our own way without fear of beheadings and whippings.

That is still the case, isn’t it?

So far...

[Venturer]

It is stil the case. I am Catholic and although the Catholce Church has made some enormous mistakes in dealing ith pedophile priests, they have never openly sanctioned them.

When they openly sanction Homosexuality and then try to make one of these homosexuals who admits to open adumtary or open sexual laisons, I will leave.